The mistress was reborn and broke off the engagement, the regent cried and begged to marry into the

Lord Zhao kowtowed quickly and trembled.

He just thought his son had a mistress, but he never expected he was so bold.

Lu Xiao said bluntly: "Fifteen girls have been rescued, and eight skeletons have been found in the well and garden soil of the house."

"Very good. My dear Lord Zhao, you have raised a good son. Yao Buwei, send someone to take the man surnamed Zhao to the prison for thorough interrogation. He is so careless about human life under the feet of the emperor. Who gave him the courage! Such a wicked man must be eliminated to appease the public anger." The emperor gritted his teeth.

Yao Buwei took the order and retreated, and another group of guards were dispatched.

The brothel was not run by Mr. Zhao alone, but there were accomplices. The imperial guards arrested people separately.

The emperor's words are golden, and no one can use their power to show off their authority.

Zhao Mansion.

The old lady was supported by her daughter-in-law and ran out of the house in tears: "My dear grandson. Officer, have you made a mistake?"

"Yes. My son is the most obedient. Although he has some minor flaws, he never breaks the law."

"Where's the master? Go and ask him to come back. What is he still doing out there when his son is in such trouble?"

"Madam, the master has not left the court yet."

The maid's words made the old lady and others smell something wrong.

The leading imperial guard said bluntly, "Mr. Zhao's crime has been reported to the emperor, and no one can help. Mr. Zhao is still kneeling in the imperial study to apologize, and I'm afraid he is too busy to help. I advise you not to interfere, otherwise my sword will not recognize anyone."

He drew out his sword, which was shining with a cold light, and glanced at everyone with murderous intent.

The old lady and her group were so frightened that they dared not say anything.

The leading guard then put away his knife and said, "Take the man away and put him in jail."

Young Master Zhao was being held by two imperial guards, his legs weak as he cried out, "Mother, grandmother, save me. Save me—"

He was so frightened that he could not walk.

Two guards picked up the man and carried him away on the left and right. Don't try to play rogue.

This situation happened in several families, all of them were children of officials. They were spoiled and ignored on weekdays.

He is sweet-mouthed and pretends to be filial at home, but behaves badly outside.

Teahouse private room.

Shangguan Haitong leaned against the window, drinking tea and watching the scene of the Imperial Guards arresting people.

The people pointed fingers, the family members cried, and the murderer protested his injustice.

Huan Shuang looked down and said indignantly: "It's pitiful for those girls at such a young age."

Shangguan Haitong's eyes were calm: "Huan Shuang, in your opinion, who is more pitiful, the dead woman or the living woman?"

Not understanding what he meant, Huanshuang said without thinking, "Of course it's the women who lost their lives. The ones who are still alive are being rescued now, and they still have a future."

"What kind of future will they have?" Shangguan Haitong played with the teacup in her hand. "The case has been made public, and everyone knows what happened to them. If their parents are conservative, they will force them to commit suicide to correct the family tradition. If their parents protect each other, can the wall they build resist the rumors?"

Huanshuang was speechless.

She raised her head and said proudly: "As long as the girls are here, I believe they will have a way to survive."

Shangguan Haitong lowered her eyes, but when the case in her previous life broke out, she could hardly protect herself, so how could she take care of others.

As for the women who survived, the people felt sorry and sympathized with them, but at the same time they demanded that they remain chaste.

Force them to express their opinions, force them to die.

Even family members may be implicated, making life worse than death.

Shangguan Haitong's lips curled up into a smile: "Some things have no precedent, so we should create them now. If we can't stop the gossip, we should just ignore it. I will bring the matter to light and give them justice. Huanshuang, follow me to the Duke of Huguo's Mansion."

The Wei family of the Duke of Protectorate?

Huan Shuang's eyes were bright: "Yes. Wherever the girl goes, I will go."

Prison.

Mr. Zhao and his companions were arrested and imprisoned separately. They clung to the prison door and cried out for justice, but no one paid any attention.

When the officials arrived, they were interrogated separately one by one.

Protector's Mansion.

The carriage slowly stopped, Huanshuang got off and turned around to help her master.

Shangguan Haitong got off the car and looked at the plaque. It was truly a reunion after a lifetime. She lifted her skirt and went to knock on the door.

When the doorman learned who the visitor was, he immediately informed them.

The Duke of Huguo was very surprised: "A girl from the Shangguan Mansion is here? I don't have a close relationship with her, why is she here?"

The concierge couldn't explain.

Wei Yuyou and Wei Jingyan happened to be accompanying them. They looked at each other and understood each other tacitly.

Wei Yuyou smiled and advised: "Maybe he came to apologize for helping me last time. It's not good to turn away a guest when he comes to visit."

"Yes, grandfather. Let's meet him. Our Duke of Protectorate Mansion is so big that we won't bully a weak woman." Wei Jingyan said excitedly.

The Duke's wife smiled kindly and agreed with her two grandsons. The person that the grandsons chose must be right.

The Protector of the Country shook his head helplessly: "You guys. Let her in. Don't say we neglected our guest."

The porter bowed and went out.

Soon, Shangguan Haitong came in and bowed: "Greetings, Duke, and Madam. Two gentlemen."

The Duke's wife looked at him inquiringly, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she became. He was good-looking and well-mannered, indeed quite good.

The Duke of Protectorate sat in the main seat, friendly yet majestic.

He smiled and waved, "Please sit down, young lady. I wonder why you're here today?"

Shangguan Haitong raised her head, her back straight, and she was resolute. She smiled and said, "Can you send the people away?"

The two brothers looked at each other.

The Duke's wife was puzzled.

The Duke of Protectorate thought about it and asked all the servants to go down.

Wei Yuyou was worried, so he walked to the door to look outside. After making sure there was no one outside, he turned around and said, "Miss, you can talk."

Shangguan Haitong knelt down gently, and Huanshuang followed suit.

The Duke's wife cried out, "No, no."

The Duke of Protectorate frowned slightly, knowing that things were not simple.

Shangguan Haitong kowtowed three times to show respect, then raised his head and said, "Today in the court, everyone was arguing. The cause was the armor. Now it is discovered that the son of the Zhao family runs a brothel. He imprisoned more than ten girls and killed nearly ten people. The emperor was furious and ordered the arrest of people."

Wei Jingyan was surprised: "It's actually involved in another case. Mr. Zhao deserves the punishment, and the emperor will punish him severely."

"The murderer deserves severe punishment. What about the women who were rescued? Can they live as before the accident?" Shangguan Haitong looked directly at the Duke of Protectorate.

She knew that she was mean and would expose the scars of everyone in the Duke's Mansion. But she was currently incapable of doing so, and this was the only way to accomplish her goal.

Upon hearing this, the Duke's wife's expression changed.

The Duke of Huguo's eyes darkened: "Why did the girl come to my house?"

Wei Yuyou knew something was wrong and stepped forward to stop it.

Shangguan Haitong said bluntly: "Have you ever forgotten the pain your daughter has suffered? If no one saves these women, they will surely go down the same path. I beg you to have mercy on me."

Wei Jingyan stopped playing around and looked at his grandparents anxiously: "Miss Shangguan, we can't help you with this matter."

Shangguan Haitong remained steadfast: "No, only the Duke can help with this matter. The victims did nothing wrong and should not be shrouded in pain. If we don't save these women today, there will be thousands of such cases in the future. Please have mercy on me, the Duke."

"Have mercy on those hurt women. They want to live. Helping them is like helping the Duke's former daughter. Even the daughters of noble families are forced into a dead end, let alone ordinary people. But they are not wrong!"